4 children of light a6 - wordpress.com · 2019. 2. 4. · god is light and his children are born...
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Children of light
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. He was in the
beginning with God.
All things came into being
through Him, and apart from Him nothing came
into being that has come into being. In Him was
life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not
comprehend it. John 1:1-5
To say God is the Light (1 John 1:5) tells us of
He is morally pure and has complete
knowledge of things, all that happens, both
past, present and future. God is filled with
perfect self knowledge and of all that is
created by Him.
When John says that "God is light" He is
declaring God is the foundation of all light in
all that has been created, all that was, is, and
ever will be. He is the source of all light. His
Light is inseparable from His powerful holy
presence and activity as God the creator of the
world, who said "let there be light." Gen 1:3-4
Throughout the Scriptures "light" is used to
define of all that is contained in God's
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unapproachable perfection. Instead of the
darkness and error of the world we have His
light of the truth; instead of the darkness of
sin we have the light of His holiness; instead
of the darkness of destruction we have His
light of salvation.
John's use of the word "darkness" refers to all
that is opposed to God, including the darkness
of human sin and the dark power of Satan as
the prince of the world. (John 14:30) By
teaching us that "in God, there is no darkness at
all," (1 John 1:5) we are to understand God is
separated from sin and has total supremacy
over sin and its corrupting nature in the world.
Jesus is the light of life
Jesus came so that the Light of God was
available to all mankind. There was the true
Light which, coming into the world, enlightens
every man. (John 1:9) When the Light of the
world came to live amongst men, He bought
His saving Light to a world darkened and
controlled by Satan, the prince of darkness
who is called the Prince of the power of the
air. Eph 2:2
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Jesus came so that there is a way out of the
darkness of the world. Jesus said: “I am the
Light of the world; he who follows Me will not
walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of
life.” John 8:12
He said: "I have come as Light into the world, so
that everyone who believes in Me will not remain
in darkness." (John 12:46) "While you have the
Light, believe in the Light, so that you may
become sons of Light.” John 12:36
Believers are sons of light
Those who have confessed their sins and
turned to trust in God for all things have been
made clean by the blood of Jesus and are now
to walk in the light. (1 John 1:7, 9; John 8:12) You
were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in
the Lord; walk as children of Light. Eph 5:8
God is Light and His children are born into
the light by His Spirit so they can be sons of
light and shine a light in the world the nature
and purpose of God. You are all sons of light. 1 Thess 5:5
When those who believe in Jesus are born
again by the Spirit, they become God's
children of light. God's children are to reflect
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the light of God in the world. They are to
shine as the representatives of God in a dark
world by living the kind of life that God
would live if He were walking in our shoes.
Therefore Jesus said: "you are the light of the
world." "Let your light shine before men in such a
way that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matt 5:14, 16
God's children take the light into the world so
others may have light. "To open their eyes so
that they may turn from darkness to light and from
the dominion of Satan to God, that they may
receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance
among those who have been sanctified by faith in
Me." Acts 26:18
For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of
darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts
to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of
God in the face of Christ. 2 Cor 4:6
The children of light are truly a guide to the
blind and a light for those who live in
darkness. It was the purpose of Jesus that His
disciples would take His message of light to
the world. "What I tell you in the darkness, speak
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in the light; and what you hear whispered in your
ear, proclaim upon the housetops." Matt 10:27
God's children are saints in light
Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you
to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Col 1:12
The sons of light are saints in Christ and have
an inheritance in eternity with the Lord in
heaven. (Gal 3:18; Eph 1:11, 14) This is also
called "the riches of his glorious inheritance in
the saints." (Eph 1:18) If children, heirs also, heirs
of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we
suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified
with Him. Rom 8:17
God gave His precious Son as a living
sacrifice so we could become God's children
in His Light. Having a share in His Light
means we can share in His inheritance if we
share in giving ourselves as a living sacrifice. Rom 12:1
The word saints, is taken from the original
Greek word we know as holy, holy in the
likeness of nature with the Lord. It is holy
because it comes from God and is quite
different from the nature of those in the world.
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Being called a saint doesn't mean perfect
without sin, it mean being perfected from sin
by being faithful to the Lord who gives us life.
This is clear since Paul wants us to grow in
Christ. 'We have not ceased to pray for you,
asking that you may be filled with the knowledge
of His will in all spiritual wisdom and
understanding.' Col 1:9
The saints are conscious of the great debt they
owe to God. (Col 1:13) This knowledge of His
salvation should mean that they live for Him
and for His glory and walk in a way to please
the Lord in all things. Col 1:14, 23
Children of light separate their hearts and
minds from the darkness
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for
because of these things the wrath of God comes
upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not
be partakers with them; for you were formerly
darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk
as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light
consists in all goodness and righteousness and
truth),trying to learn what is pleasing to the
Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of
darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is
disgraceful even to speak of the things which are
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done by them in secret. But all things become
visible when they are exposed by the light, for
everything that becomes visible is light. Eph 5:6-13
Receiving the light of God means we have
enough light to overcome the deception of the
world. But there must be a real separation
from the ways of the world of darkness to
show the light of goodness, righteousness and
truth, always endeavouring to please the Lord
while exposing the deception of the darkness
that alienates man from God. 'for you are all
sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night
nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others
do, but let us be alert and sober.' 1 Thess 5:5-6
"But he who practices the truth comes to the
Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as
having been wrought in God.” John 3:21
Children of light fellowship with God's
family in the Light
Children of the light desire fellowship with
those who walk in the light, so they long to go
to church which is the gathering of the chosen
people of God in the light by the Spirit of
God. but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is
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in the Light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from
all sin. 1 John 1:7
Spiritual fellowship in the word of God is the
way to keep us on track as we confess our sins
to one another (James 5:16) and we are cleansed
of all sin in learning to please God.
Coming to church is like enjoying Christmas
day every Sunday. We gather in joy to enjoy
fellowship with family and the receiving of
gifts from the Holy Spirit.
However there is no joy in the Lord without
our humble brokenness before the Lord. There
is no light shared in fellowship with God
without coming out of the darkness.
Children of light share the power of God's
blessings
When the children of light look to God for the
power of His blessings in our daily lives, is
there any mention of the blessings of being
empowered in denying self in order to take up
our cross to follow Christ? Luke 9:23
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Is there any word of gaining blessings in order
to share in the suffering of Christ so we can be
glorified with Him? Rom 8:17
Or is our prayer about being comfortable in
the world from which we are supposed to
have been separated to live in Christ in order
to be light in the world? John 17:16
In Jesus Christ we have died to the world
around us so we don't look to the world for
life, and the world has been stripped of its
power to destroy us because we are in Christ. But may it never be that I would boast, except in
the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which
the world has been crucified to me, and I to the
world. Gal 6:14
If we have been set apart from the world by
Christ, and no longer living for the world, our
desire should be for Christ, He alone is to be
the reason for our life. “But put on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh,
to gratify its desires.” Rom 13:14
The power of God works in obedient children.
As His disciples we are to become like Him. “For to this you have been called, because Christ
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also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so
that you might follow in his steps.” 1 Pet 2:21
As He offered Himself as a living sacrifice for
us, we, by the power of the Spirit, offer
ourselves as a living sacrifice for Him. “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of
God, to present your bodies a living and holy
sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your
spiritual service of worship.” Rom 12:1
Nothing in the world can be allowed to take
His place as we serve Him. "Set your mind on
the things above, not on the things that are on
earth. For you have died and your life is hidden
with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life,
is revealed, then you also will be revealed with
Him in glory." Col 3:2-4
In resisting the seduction of the world to
compromise our faith, real effort is required
by surrendering to the leading power of the
Spirit of God. “for if you are living according to
the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are
putting to death the deeds of the body, you will
live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of
God, these are sons of God.” Rom 8:13-14
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We must be determined to walk as Jesus
walked. “the one who says he abides in Him
ought himself to walk in the same manner as He
walked.” 1 John 2:6
We are to live according to the character and
the values of God who is our Father. “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved
children.” Eph 5:1
The questions we must ask ourselves are:--
1. Are we more concerned about enjoying life
in the world? 2. Or are we sold out in our
determination to follow the example of
Christ? 3. Are we more interested in ourselves
than our devotion to God?
We should never forget we are not our own,
we have been bought with the precious blood
of Christ. We should remember we have died
to the world with Christ and been raised up to
newness of life. We should never forget we no
longer live for ourselves but Christ lives in us.
We should never forget that God works in us
for His good pleasure. Phil 2:13
Only having concerns for self in the world
makes for an excellent forgetfulness so that
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what we have experienced of the grace of God
is of little importance.
The power of God's blessing is for those
seeking Christ alone to be our life alone, for
Christ is our life. Col 3:4
Children of light must be wise to the world
Children of light must take care how they live. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise
but as wise. Eph 5:15
If we take our cues about our worth from
people who fall short of the maturity of the
mind of Christ, then we are in danger of
wanting to be flattered by people so we seek
their approval; and we will be shattered when
their maturity isn't as high as they imagine, so
they fail to live up to our expectations which
are also lacking.
Our worth and standing comes from the God
of Light alone, through His grace alone. If we
are in Christ we are sons of God in Light,
maybe not fully grown, but working out our
salvation so we can have peace with God. If
we are still interested in doing our own thing,
then we walk in darkness, so peace and joy
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will not be in our hearts. We exclude
ourselves from the power of God's blessing to
live as children of light.
In the same way, if we decide our peace and
happiness is determined by worldly success
and comfort, we will be deceived by thinking
pleasure is the goal of life on earth, and we
will be depressed when we see that the world
has passed us by because we have little of
what the world offers. Friendship with the
world is to walk in darkness, that's depressing.
However if we are in the Light of Christ we
have an inheritance in heaven that no one can
take away. (Rom 8:38-39) If we are in Christ our
peace and joy come from walking as children
of light in His presence, regardless of what we
have or don't have in the world.
If we are let down and feel unappreciated
because someone or something hasn't turned
out the way we want, then we have a lot to
learn about the God of Light and how He
works for our good in the world of darkness. Rom8:28-29
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When we are saved by the grace of God and
adopted as children of light into His family we
are to be content with what the Father
provides. I have learned the secret of being
content in any and every situation, whether well
fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Phil 4:12
Being children of light also means God has set
us aside from the world in order for us to be
holy as He is holy. Our grateful response is to
continually work on the process of separating
ourselves from any attachment to the world of
darkness according to the thinking of ordinary
men of the world so we can better reflect the
light of God.
Our salvation is from the darkness of the
world and into the light of the kingdom of
God; in order that we can live as children of
light who find all we need in the hands of God
to the glory of God so we can enjoy Him
forever.
If we don't have peace in our hearts as a child
of His light, then we have every reason to be
unhappy and depressed. A lack of peace
means we are either doing our own thing, and
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we don't really know God. It may mean we
are not children of light and lack peace with
God, so that we lack His eternal life and are
condemned to be separated from God in
eternal darkness.
Even the children of light have to learn that
the mind that is fixed on God, He will kept in
perfect peace. (Isaiah 26:3) Therefore the mind
that is fixed on the world and men will not
have lasting peace and will suffer eternal
separation from God in eternal judgement. Rom 8:6
The children of darkness resist the light
If we don't have the light of Christ we have
abandoned ourselves to darkness and death.
The darkness of the world is the absence of
light and resistance to the light of God. This
absence of light is everything that falls short
of the glory of God.
People of the darkness are those who resist the
light because they love the darkness rather
than the light. (John 3:19) in whose case the god
of this world has blinded the minds of the
unbelieving so that they might not see the light of
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the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image
of God. 2 Cor 4:4
"For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and
does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds
will be exposed." John 3:20
No wonder some people are deceived, for the
god of this world, Satan disguises himself as
an angel of light. 2 Cor 11:14
The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates
his brother is in the darkness until now. 1 John 2:9
Darkness gets more darkness
Living in the darkness of the world is natural
for all mankind until the light of God dawns
in our hearts. The darkness is painful for
everyone. We don't go through life unharmed;
everyone is afflicted with the consequences of
our mindless self centeredness as well as that
of others.
Life in the darkness is always going to be
adding to our pain. Satan's darkness feeds on
darkness so that its increase is expanding in
every direction to infect even more people.
Our parents sin adds to the potential for our
sin, and our sin adds to the potential
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opportunity for others to keep adding to the
world of darkness.
The influence of darkness in the world is all
pervasive so that nothing under its control can
be diverted from its path of deceptive
destruction, unless God intervenes by the
work of His grace. Parental abuse can easily
lead to the victim becoming a bully.
Emotional detachment by the father can result
in a confused sexual orientation. Family
dysfunction breads serious human dislocation
that infects every area of life.
Walking as children of light or darkness
We should not be surprised that the people of
the world will be true to walking in the
darkness. Therefore we who have received
mercy from God should have pity for those
who are blinded by the spirit of the world. The
blind need the light of our compassion, but
they should not be appeased as if they have
something we need.
We must remain in the light and show mercy
for those who live in the darkness of the
world, for they have been created by God to
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have the image of God even though they are
slaves to their fallen nature and cannot escape
except by the cross of Christ. The children of
darkness cannot free themselves from their
spiritual bondage to the prince of the world
because they are under his power.
We who walk in the light are to live on God's
terms. The children of light have received
faith and forgiveness from their God and
saviour Jesus Christ through His death and
resurrection; by which He has freed us from
the power of the enemy of God to live for God
in holiness and truth. We have received His
truth to inform us how to live as His children.
This life style instruction we have received in
the Bible is what we call doctrine. We are the
keepers of God's doctrine, God's truth for
living.
The children of light have approached God in
humility and brokenness; in total surrender
they commit themselves to following the
example of Christ because they now know
that only Jesus Christ knows the way to God.
And they know the love of God because God
is love and light and has poured out His love
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into their hearts by the Spirit. (Rom 5:5) The
children of light have also received the
wisdom of God by the work of the Spirit of
God. 1 Cor 2:12-16
The children of light come to the light because
their deeds are pleasing to God. (John 3:21) The
children of light have surrendered to the Spirit
of God to be governed by His heavenly
priorities. Rom 8:14
The children of darkness have turned their
backs on God because of their pride, insisting
they can find their way through life by their
own understanding. The children of darkness
delight in the wisdom of the world which is
foolishness to God. 1 Cor 3:19
The children of darkness have their home in
the world filled with darkness in opposition to
God. They seek what they want from what has
been created, (this is idolatry) they put their
trust in things and want power over others.
They choose the darkness because it is where
they prefer to live because their seed is from
the devil. "You are of your father the devil, and
you want to do the desires of your father." John 8:44
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The children of the world find their desires are
in the world instead of being secured with the
Creator of all things. The children of darkness
resist the light because their deeds are against
obedience to the Lord Jesus who is the Light
of the world. The children of the world are
enslaved to the spirit of the world to be bound
up with him to share in his condemnation and
judgment by God. Rev 20:11-15
Children of light are willing slaves to Christ.
The children of light serve Christ as
temporary residents of the world where they
live as strangers and aliens in a foreign land.
The children of light are not to place their
desires on the things of the world, because
their certain living hope is fixed on the
coming kingdom of God in Christ.
The children of light follow the example of
the Light of Jesus Christ, who as the Lord of
all things, who has transferred them from the
darkness of the world into the Light of the
kingdom of God. The children of light have
chosen to deny self interest and worldly
understanding to take up their cross to follow
Christ's understanding of life in the Light.
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The children of darkness follow the leading of
the prince of the world who is the father of
darkness having temporary dominion over the
world; because Jesus Christ is coming again.
The children of darkness have been blinded to
this truth by the evil spirit of the world.
The children of light are trained by the Spirit
of God who has the power of light over
darkness. The children of light are not to
make themselves comfortable in the world of
darkness, because the world is in opposition to
the holiness of God and their heavenly nature.
The children of light cannot entertain
friendship with the world which is opposed to
the truth of God in Christ. The children of
light hate their life in the world of darkness
that presents itself as an enemy of God. To
have friendship with the world is to be an
enemy of God. The children of light live to
bring the light of God to the world of
darkness.
Where have you placed your hope of peace, in
God, or in the pretence of the world? It's not
too late to die to the world to live in the Light.
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A time is coming when the world of darkness
will face God's judgement and come to an
end, along with all who have hoped in the
world and turned their backs on God.
Even the children of light will be held
accountable, for it is God who will render to
each person according to his deeds. (Rom 2:6)
So then each one of us will give an account of
himself to God. Rom 14:12
If you feel you don't know Christ Jesus well
enough and have not committed yourself to
follow His example, it's not too late.
This is the powerful prayer for God's
blessings. Now to Him who is able to do far more
abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works within us, to
Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Eph 3:20-21
Holy Father, please work in me whatever the
cost to myself, so I can be a better light
tomorrow than I am today. For the need in the
world is so great and I am so small I can do
nothing unless you remain in me and I in You.
Abide in Me
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